Are these the ultimate R1 and B-King customs?

Published: 24 December 2008

This American custom-built YamahaR1 and B King are the latest products of Nick Anglada at Custom Sportbike Concepts in Volusia County, Florida.

The R1 was built for a customer who wanted the look of the custom bikes seen so much in the US but without the handling compromises associated with longer swingarms, dropped suspension and massive 300-section rear wheels.

This meant Ohlins suspension, a rear tyre kept to a more reasonable 240-section, uprated Beringer brakes, keeping both front brake discs and reducing weight of the bike by ditching the heavy underseat exhausts for a SuzukiGSX-R1000 tail unit and Laser exhaust. The acrylic clear wheels built by Metalsport Inc and along with the paisley paintscheme they really make the R1 stand out.

But the most unusual part of the bike is the titanium finish on the frame, wheels and many of the metal components. Pioneered by a firm called Tanury it’s a finish that was first used for jewellery where an electrically charged process atomises titanium nitride before it becomes a powder and sticks to a chrome finish.

The B-King was built in collaboration with Suzuki America who wanted a custom bike to showcase what a modified bike could look like.

Anglada said: “Suzuki were trying to motivate some sales of the bike in America and we wanted to show what could be done – the biggest issue being trying to get rid of some of the weight. In total, thanks to ditching the standard exhaust, heat shrouds, swingarm and wheels more than 25kg off the 235kg total weight of the bike.